June 11 Bulletin

Claremont United Church of Christ Sunday, June 11, 2023 10:00 am Welcome home! Regardless of your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, abilities, or faith background, we are glad you’re worshiping with us today. You belong here.

A CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP CLAREMONT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PRELUDE Passacaglia in C Minor BWV 582 J.S. Bach Dr. Carey Robertson, organ INTROIT A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing! DEO GRACIAS CALL TO SABBATH CALL TO WORSHIP Written by Beth Merrill Neel One: We see light, hope, and joy; All: We bring heart, soul, mind, and body; One: We share blessings and fears; All: We bring faith and doubt. One: With all that we are and all that we have, let us worship God. OPENING HYMN Woman in the Night (see next page) NEW DISCIPLES WELCOME CONFESSING OUR SHORTCOMINGS Holy God, we admit that we do not always show up for the hard things. We make excuses for our absence, and we ignore your calls to love our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, we pray. Fill us with the courage to be present for the pain, that we may be like those who heal and are healed. RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE One: …We are forgiven and made whole. All: Thanks be to God! Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: May the peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. LITURGICAL SONG Where Children Belong James Ritchie This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshiping throng. Water, God’s Word, bread and cup, prayer and song: This is where children belong.



SERMON ON THE STEPS OFFERING/MUSIC The Other Side Brother James Brother James, singer/songwriter DOXOLOGY LASST UNS ERFREUEN Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ the word in flesh born low, Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise Holy Spirit evermore, One God, Triune, whom we adore, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! DEDICATION SCRIPTURE Joshua 2:1-9, 12-21 (NRSV) 2 Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and spent the night there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out the whole land.” 4 But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. 5 And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.” 6 She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land and that dread of you has fallen on us and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you.” Luke 8:1-3 (CEB) 8 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled through the cities and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. The Twelve were with him, 2 along with some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. Among them were Mary Magdalene (from whom seven demons had been thrown

out), 3 Joanna (the wife of Herod’s servant Chuza), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources. SERMON Rev. Laurel Capesius Yas Queen: Uncovering LGBTQ Voices in Scripture “Among Them Were Women” ANTHEM Celebrate Life, Celebrate Love Jonathan D. Campbell (Text from Psalm 81:16 & CUCC Member Lucia Galloway Dick) PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER To honor the power of both the traditional and new versions of the Lord’s Prayer, we will alternate which version we pray each week. One: …We pray these things using the words you teach us, saying together, All: Great Giver, in whom heaven is found, holy is Your name. May Your commonwealth of peace and freedom flourish on earth. Give us this day bread for our journey, and make us hungry to see the whole world nourished. Forgive us and help us forgive one another. Strengthen us for the challenges that lie ahead. Let us hear Your prophets, and deliver us from our privilege. For Your love is the only power, the only home, the only honor we need, in this world and in the world to come. Amen. GUEST MUSICIAN I Had to Dig Brother James Brother James, singer/songwriter BENEDICTION CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Spirit of the Living God LIVING GOD

POSTLUDE Fugue in C Minor BWV 582 J.S. Bach Dr. Carey Robertson, organ You are invited to stay in your seats for the Postlude or to exit quietly. ALTAR FLOWERS Today’s flowers are given by Man Dy as a gift to those in attendance today. May you find a moment of Sabbath this week, amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. GUEST MUSICIAN Brother James is the spiritual moniker of LA-based producer & songwriter Justin James Sinclair, who is equally influenced by classic songwriters like McCartney and Randy Newman as he is by authors like Leo Tolstoy and Aristotle. Brother James’ songs engage with mysticism, honest self-searching, and the messy human process we all face of seeking out what's true and attempting to truly love the people in our lives. Instagram: @justinjames Patreon: Patreon.com/brotherjames Website: justinjamessinclair.com/brotherjames Thank you for your support of Claremont UCC! You can donate by texting an amount to (909) 343-5901 or scanning the QR code:



PLEASE BE IN TOUCH Claremont United Church of Christ 233 W. Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711 (909) 626-1201 | claremontucc.org @uccclaremont Claremont United Church of Christ Executive Pastor, Summer 2023 Directors of Music & Fine Arts Rev. Shannon Barnes Dr. Alexandra Grabarchuk [email protected] [email protected] Dr. David Rentz Senior Pastors [email protected] Rev. Dr. Jacob Buchholz Rev. Dr. Jen Strickland Principal Organist (on sabbatical through August 2023) Dr. Carey Robertson [email protected] Finance & Payroll Administrator Ms. Jocelyn Bocking Building Manager [email protected], x110 Mr. Adam Thomas [email protected], Office Manager x109 Ms. Jasmine Tomita [email protected], Technology Director x101 Mr. Jon Van [email protected], x120 Minister of Children, Youth, & Families ASL Interpreters Rev. Laurel Capesius Ms. Jennifer Stephenson [email protected], x210 Ms. Rebecca McAllister Children, Youth, & Families Moderator (Council President) Assistant Ms. Linda Yao Ms. Elizabeth Zehm [email protected] [email protected] Pastor Emeritus Junior High Youth Director Rev. Dr. Homer “Butch” Henderson Ms. Zoe Estrada [email protected] Director of the ECC Ms. Kristy Knight [email protected], x114